News

Outrageous waste

ABSURD building regulations, which insist that rainwater from our roofs goes into the sewers rather than into the aquifers, are the main contributors of local water shortages (Doom wash, Magazine, November 23). This overloads the sewerage system and sends the water into the rivers and out to sea.

Rainwater should instead be directed via soakaways to the local ground water resource. Not only would this reduce the sewerage overload but provide the maximum increase in water supply where it is most needed, ie where the density of housing is highest.

Bernard StaySt Albans, Hertfordshire

METERS: The only way to control demand is for users to be metered as on the Continent. To ease the burden this would place on families, all those under 18 (or non-earners) should be allocated a free quantity of cubic metres. This would enable families to compete on price with non-family households and would encourage